VESSEL REVIEW | INS Yuvan & INS Ojas – Indian Navy ship assist tugs with secondary firefighting and rescue functions

The Indian Navy recently commissioned two new harbour tugs in a series into operational service.

INS Yuvan and INS Ojas belong to a series of six bollard pull tugs built locally by Titagarh Rail Systems for the Indian Navy. The series is known as the Bhishm-class after lead vessel INS Bhishm, which was handed over the navy in 2024 along with two other sisters.

Compact, durable and agile platforms

The Bhishm-class tugs were designed and built in accordance with Indian Register of Shipping rules. Each tug has a projected service life of 30 years as well as a significant percentage of local content in line with the Indian Government’s “make in India” initiative.

Like their sisters in the Bhishm-class, Yuvan and Ojas will assist other naval ships and submarines during berthing, unberthing, and manoeuvring in confined waters. Aiding each tug in this function are two azimuthing thrusters that can deliver a bollard pull of 25 tonnes.

Designed for coastal response missions

The tugs will also provide afloat firefighting support to ships alongside or at anchorage and may also be used for limited search and rescue operations in coastal waters. The tugs’ firefighting equipment includes foam/water monitors.

The vessels each boast a Samyung radar and other advanced communication and navigation systems that will help ensure safe coordination with larger vessels during ship assist operations in busy harbour waters.

Yuvan and Ojas are homeported at the naval base in Visakhapatnam.

Another tug, the future INS Sabal, is the final vessel in the series of six built by Titagarh and is scheduled for delivery to the navy before the end of this year.